Michigan football film study: Let's examine Shea Patterson

Shea Patterson transferring from Ole Miss to Michigan means the Wolverines may have a pretty stacked quarterback competition coming into the spring. Although that's if Patterson is able to secure an NCAA waiver to be eligible for the 2018 season.
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FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2017, file photo, Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson (20) passes against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss. Patterson says he will transfer to Michigan, where coach Jim Harbaugh has gone through three starting QBs this season. Patterson made his commitment in a tweet on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, after visiting the Ann Arbor, Michigan, campus last weekend. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)(Photo: The Associated Press)

I watched video from five of Patterson's games last season at Ole Miss, all four of his Southeastern Conference appearances (Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt and LSU) and one non-league game at Cal. This is what stood out:

Strengths

Patterson has a lot of natural ability. And while he has room for development, it's easy to see why scouts tabbed him as the No. 1 QB prospect in the country when he entered college two years ago.

His ability to improvise and extend plays with his feet typically are the first things people notice, and it's why some classify him as dual-threat runner, which is a bit off. Patterson's mobile, to be sure, but he doesn't have top-end speed. He's good enough to execute the run-pass option, but he's probably not going to be the wrinkle on a zone-read.

Still, his feel in the pocket and ability to extend plays and make throws on the run is special. And while it can get him into trouble, it also can get him out of trouble. His arm strength doesn't waver when he's throwing on the run, and he has proven he can hurt a defense when a play breaks down.

The ability to create something when everything else is falling apart is one of the most difficult things for a quarterback to master. Patterson's a natural in this department, which we all knew.

You don't necessarily want to make a living with this stuff. But it's certainly part of Shea Patterson's game pic.twitter.com/G2MF8jHN97

What I wanted to see was how Patterson performed from a pocket, since he'll be in one more often in Michigan's pro-style set. U-M coach Jim Harbaugh and company certainly can add layers to their offense to support Patterson's style, but he'll also have to adapt and adjust to Michigan's scheme.

Patterson looks elite when his feet are set and his first or second reads are open. It's true he was victimized by dropped passes too many times last season at Ole Miss, but he also put plenty of throws on the money down a seam or over the top of the defense.

He missed his fair share of throws as well, but he's terrific when he's decisive, in a rhythm and under control enough to step into throws.

Patterson showed this against Auburn on Oct. 7, on a basic play-action call with a receiver coming open down a seam. Patterson kept his head up and maintained his balance before putting the ball in a perfect spot over two defenders. The pass was dropped, but it could've been a touchdown.

Patterson has sound pocket awareness, and he seemed to have a strong grasp of what Ole Miss was trying to accomplish on offense.

He often tweaked his arm angle and release to fit throws into tight windows, but did show a tendency to leave throws high over the middle at times. He has enough velocity on his throws to hit slants and crosses with tight coverage following behind.

His footwork determines everything.

When it wanders, he loses his accuracy from the pocket. But when he's throwing from a strong base, the delivers the ball like a laser.

Weaknesses

This isn't Patterson's fault, but the no-huddle spread offense he was running at Ole Miss is nothing like what he'll run at Michigan. Ole Miss went into the Auburn game with fewer than 30 plays in the plan, according to the SEC Network broadcast

That's very basic, and Michigan's offense is not basic. Patterson also used the coaches on the sideline for checks and audibles at Ole Miss, and the run-pass option and spread concepts typically were on one read and go. It's likely neither of those things will happen at Michigan.

Patterson is not Baker Mayfield. He is not Russell Wilson. His style resembles Johnny Manziel, but he's not there yet. Patterson needs development, he needs coaching and he needs polish.

His mobility can get him into trouble, at times, as he's not fast enough to beat top-level defenders to the edge. He's also 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and is coming off a knee injury. Improvising when things are breaking down is one thing. Cutting out of the pocket early and causing a fire drill is another.

When pressure comes up the middle and he's forced to stand in and deliver a pass, he has a tendency to push the ball instead of stepping into the throw and using his great arm to make a play. This can leave the ball high, wide, short or in the general direction of a defender.

There are moments when he looks elite. And then there are moments when he misses a throw in traffic or leaves a deep throw too short or too long. Usually, this all boils down to the base created by his feet.

Analysis

Patterson is a talented quarterback who will be an important piece for Harbaugh's football team if he's eligible in 2018. Michigan needed another quarterback, and Brandon Peters and Dylan McCaffrey only have four games of combined experience, with all of it coming from Peters this season. Patterson has played in 10 games, which is not a mountain of experience, but it's a fair amount in a difficult league.

I'd caution against anointing him as the answer to all of Michigan's prayers right now, as he needs to learn this offense and keep developing. He also needs to be protected by his offensive line, but that's another conversation.

Patterson has the tools to be special if Michigan can coach him up and keep him upright. But no one should be writing off Peters just yet.